Time to make oatmeal..

...or as my son used to say when he was little, "openeymeal". I love to make a big crockpot of oatmeal to last a week in the fridge...


There are many health benefits of oatmeal: It's full of fiber, reduces LDL cholesterol (the bad kind), has lots of protein, and may help prevent heart disease.
The problem with some crockpot oatmeal recipes is they don't use enough liquid. So by the time you wake up in the morning, the oatmeal is crusty and stuck to your slow cooker. This crockpot oatmeal turns out just the way oatmeal was intended to taste and can cook 8 to 9 hours without sticking.

Important: You must use steel cut oatmeal, such as McCann's Irish Oatmeal, not rolled oats or instant oats. Otherwise, your oatmeal will cook too fast and end up sticking to the crockpot. If some has stuck to the sides and is crusty when you are ready to dish it up, just stir it in...it will not matter at all! Try it...here's how...if you like it, let me know...


Crockpot Oatmeal Recipe
2 cups steel cut oats (not instant or rolled oats)
6-8 cups water, depending on how long the oatmeal will cook...

Spray crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. If you're planning to cook the oatmeal 8 hours or longer, use 8 cups of water. If you want to cook it less than 8 hours, use 6 cups of water. Put ingredients in slow cooker and cook on low. Just before serving, Stir in bananas, walnuts, cooked apples, brown sugar, milk, cream, honey, or whatever you like in it. As for me, I just like it plain, with a little butter, sugar, and milk on top. After it cools, I transfer the oatmeal from the crockpot to a 9x13 pan glass container with a lid and place in the fridge. Each day, I scoop some out (it will be very thick and gummy), add milk and sugar, although usually I put in two sweet 'n lows, and put it in my corningware bowl with lid and carry it to work. Then I microwave it for a short time and voila! Openeymeal! Sometimes I leave it cold and instead of milk, I add a one serving size of yogurt to it, mix it up and yummy! Breakfast on the go!

Serving size: 1/4 cup

Per serving: 150 calories, 2 g fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 26 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 4 g protein, 1% Vitamin A, 6% Vitamin C, 5% calcium, 8% iron, 20 g calcium

Pay It Forward

I am so excited to be a part of and to share with you something that has been happening in blogland... "Pay it Forward". I'm not sure who originated it, but I am glad to be a part of it. I really think we need to spread a little love and take part in random acts of kindness.
...here's the way it works! I've signed up and commit to send the next 3 people who sign up here on my blog - a little something handmade by me - a goodie package within 365 days. By signing up- YOU agree to Pay it Forward to the next 3 people who sign up with you (on your blog) and send them something within 365 days.
Ready to Pay It Forward? Spread the love and sign up! Please leave a contact email so I can confirm details with you.
Thanks,
Paula
Let's keep the chain going.....

Flirty Apron Swap: Vintage Linens Remix Package Requirements

Flirty Apron Swap: Vintage Linens Remix Package Requirements

Next Flirty Apron Swap!

Well, Shawnee's done it again!

I am so happy to announce the Fifth round of the Flirty Apron Swap! In honor of the historic author of the Apron books, EllynAnne Geisel, her latest swap will involve YOU finding wonderful kitchen linens (tablecloths, placemats, runners, towels) and re-mixing them into Flirty Aprons. I've joined, have you?

Check it out!
Click on the button and go to Apron Memories...EllynAnne Geisel's blog. She has a wonderful new book due to come out shortly!

The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives

Gather ’round! The endearing follow-up to The Apron Book is now served. EllynAnne Geisel graces us with her new treasure, The Kitchen Linens Book. It’s a lovely treat.

Family kitchens are where our days begin and end. And one constant is threaded among the people, the stories, and the moments: America’s kitchen linens. If only these prized pieces could talk.

The Kitchen Linens Book invites women of all ages to visit with the past. In this book, Geisel gives us an up-close look at tablecloths, dishtowels, and napkins with details and histories as fine as the stories themselves. Embroidered or hemstitched, linens or oilcloths–these are the fabrics and the memories of our mothers and grandmothers. And each one has an endearing story and a vivid history.

*The book features over 20 projects and 8 recipes.

* The book includes a classic Butterick transfer pattern for a vintage kitchen towel motif, circa 1945.

* Rich photography highlighting every detail accompanies stories passed from generation to generation.

* EllynAnne’s passion for finding and saving linens from flea markets, estate sales, and antique stores will inspire you to dig through your own closets and cupboards.

You can buy the book directly at Apron Memories by clicking on a button! I know I will!

Over at Southern Plate

Basket filled With Pioneer Brand Products! (and a recipe!)
Submitted by Christy Jordan on Tuesday, February 17, 2009504 Comments


The good folks at Pioneer brand are offering this weeks giveaway and its a doozie (I am so tempted to enter…but alas, I shall give it to one of you!). A basket FILLED with all of their great products will be sent to the front door of one lucky Southern Plate reader!

To enter, simply leave a comment below the post at Southern Plate.
For 2 additional entries into EVERY Feb Giveaway, blog or tweet about this with a link!

Many of you have written that you are having a difficult time finding Pioneer Baking Mix in your local Wal Marts. I spoke with my extremely kind contact at Pioneer and she says they are working on getting it back in all of the stores. If you’ll just let the manager know you want it, they can get it in for you!

Also courtesy of Pioneer Brand, here is a recipe and photo for ya! I haven’t got to try this yet so y’all let me know if you do! I hope to make it this week because it sure looks good (I’m making it for supper one night!).



Skillet Breakfast Casserole
1/2 lb. sausage, cooked and crumbled
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 lb. tater tots
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 package Pioneer Peppered Gravy Mix
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp. minced chives

PREHEAT oven to 350ºF.

PREPARE sausage, set aside.

HEAT oil in a 10 to 12-inch oven-proof skillet.

BROWN tater tots 4 minutes.

REMOVE from heat; sprinkle on sausage.

WHISK gravy mix into water.

WHISK in eggs.

POUR evenly over tater tots.

BAKE 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted is clean when removed.

SPRINKLE on cheese, bake 3 minutes or until melted.

CUT into wedges.

GARNISH with chives.

YIELD: 4 servings.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Pioneer Brand :

The Masterpiece!

My picture with my little Kodak Easy-Share does not do this justice, but what can I say? You all need to pick your own magazine up as soon as your little feet can carry you! I tried Barnes and Nobles and was very disappointed to learn that they did not carry the first issue of Apronology, and the staff at two stores were really not very helpful regarding ordering it in the future! I know Books-A-Million carries it, but unfortunately, my town doesn't have one. Imagine my surprise when I was waiting for my daughter to HURRY UP at Hobby Lobby and I looked down to see that magazine staring me in the face! Anyway! This is my kind of apron...one with attitude!!!

Tea With Mrs. Lovett

Calamity Kim is a STAR!

I finally found an issue of Apronology Magazine at Hobby Lobby and what do you think I found inside? Why, our very own Calamity Kim has done it again! She has an apron featured in the very first issue of the new magazine! You go, girl!

My Knitting Blog

Hey all you knitters...check out my new blog on Wordpress... "Pardon me for knitting" - www.knittinpretty.wordpress.com

Bento

and what is Bento, you ask? This is Biggie's lunch for Bug, her little pre-schooler...check out her blog at www.lunchinabox.net. She has so many recipes and information about Bentos, Japanese food and portion-control. My problem with eating is portion control, for sure. I eat a healthy diet, mostly, but TOO MUCH OF IT!!!!!!!!!! If you have this problem, you will love Bento...plus the boxes are just plumb cute!

Love me some Bento!

Couscous with pine nuts and beef...squash flower on top...YUM

Crispy Herb-Baked Chicken

Here's a great recipe I found to use up the dreaded potato flakes my DH bought in bulk at BJ's! Wait! Don't leave! It's really good...check it out.!

Crispy Herb-Baked Chicken
INGREDIENTS
• 2/3 cup dry potato flakes
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 (3 pound) chicken, skin removed, cut into pieces
• 1/3 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease or line with foil a baking sheet or a 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, combine potato flakes, Parmesan cheese, and garlic salt. Stir until well mixed.
3. Dip chicken pieces into melted butter or margarine, and roll in potato flake mixture to coat. Place in prepared pan.
4. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until chicken is tender and golden brown
Serves 4

Sisters On The Fly

I am a member of a group of women who love to camp and most of us have vintage campers! Mine is a 1968 Shasta named Key-Lime Cowgirl...in the up-coming issue of MaryJane's Farm Girl magazine, the Sisters are featured camping it up big-time! Come join us...check it out:

No-Sew Fleece Blankets for Charity

Here we are...my Sisters on the Fly friends and me delivering some no-sew fleece blankets to a girl's home. They were really appreciative of their snugglies and promised they would use them all the time. We are a camping group and have such fun, but always do a charity event each time we get together!

Check out www.sistersonthefly.com

I know you're out there, Messies!

Here you go, all you closet-messies who won't admit that you are...........a MESSIE!

http://www.messies.com/

From Tip Junkie

If you love tips as much as I do, check out Tip Junkie's blog! Another one I don't miss is http://tipnut.com/...and while I'm on a roll, I have a deep, dark, dirty secret! I am a messie...that's right...your eyes do not deceive you...I AM A MESSIE and belong to Messies Anonymous.

You see, Messie's love lists, and make them, and then forget to look at them...we also love tips of all kinds. I have been known to sit for four hours looking at, then saving the tips on tipnut.com. Somebody help me! But, the Lord loves those who help themselves, right? I am going to do better, I promise. Hold me to it!

From my Swap-partner!

Yippee! My swap package from the Flirty Sassy Apron Swap arrived today! Tammy of http://www.sweettsews.blogspot.com/ did herself proud with this one! I had said I loved pink and green and the two fabrics couldn't have been more perfect! For more pix, go to my flickr photoscreen...nursdurkin.

The Vilula Tea Gardens

As a frequent reader of blogs, this is my first attempt to create one of my own...I hope you will bear with me as I grow...This blog is created to tell you a little about myself, and what I love...I have an insatiable curiosity about almost everything. I have many projects going on, all at the same time, but many are unfinished. My mind runs loop-de-loop and I am off to another interesting thought, color, fabric...oh, well, you get the picture. Hopefully, blogging will give me some measure of discipline in my pursuits, er hobbies, oh, whatever...